How to Speed Up Computer - The Hassle-Free Way

Are you aging as you wait for your tediously slow computer to respond? Getting overly frustrated with crawling processor speeds? Wish you had a sleek, new fast computer? Computers don't have to be slow. Slow computers don't have to stay that way. If you are willing to take action, you can have a fast, responsive computer. If you are worried that a quick computer repair is going to cost you a bomb, then fret not because there are hassle-free ways available for you to give your PC a fast and easy tune up.

No matter where we are, using a computer in an inescapable task in modern society. Considering how dependent we are on it, it is only natural to want a fast computer. If you are ready to part with your money, then shouldn't have problems buying a high end computer on a whim. But if you're not, then let's examine some hassle-free, low costs ways in which we can speed up our computers.

#1 Avoid multi-tasking

Everyone is guilty of this. It is normal for computer users to open an array of applications at one go. The problem with this is that when too many applications are running all-at-one-go, chances are your RAM space gets used up all at once. As such, this causes your computer to become laggy and eventually your computer screen will freeze up. So, to avoid the problem of laggy computers, simply learn to minimize the use of numerous applications at one go.

#2 Simplicity is the best

Keeping everything simple on the desktop can also minimize the problem of laggy computers. Computer users like to use fancy wallpapers, animated mouse pointers and such. But little did we know that these fancy 'things' on our desktop can slow everything down. So try your best and avoid using high-resolution pictures as your wallpapers and resist the temptations of using that pulsating heart as your mouse pointer. You'd better ask yourself if it is worth your while to turn your desktop into an animated circus.

#3 Easy computer checkups

Just like humans, computers need regular check ups too. Regardless of how new a computer may be or however seemingly ancient it may look, it is necessary that you conduct constant check ups on your computer. There are free computer check ups available online. Some of these free computer check ups are as good as their commercial counterparts. Simply make full use of the free computer checkups, as they are able to diagnose any errors, viruses and spywares that might be present in your computer. The great thing about this is that these free computer checkups will also help to solve the errors for you too.

Speeding up your computer does not necessarily have to be expensive. The tips and tricks mentioned above won't even cost you a dime! Just remember to do regular check ups on your PC and you can be assured of a hassle free experience the next time you use your PC.

Click Here to speed up your computer for free. Logan Albright is an authority on troubleshooting computer problems. He provides valuable advice to thousands of people on how to optimize their computers through a proper computer check up.

Techniques To Speed Up Computer

For users of the windows operating system, it is important for you, the consumer, to have the necessary knowledge to speed up computer processing speeds of your pricey IBM or Dell computers. Tired of all that difficulties in supporting multiple memory-hungry applications such as Adobe Premiere Pro and Dreamweaver? Or are you sick of your Pentium Core 2 Duo computer running at the speeds of a 486 desktop? If you are facing any of the above mentioned problems, read on to learn more about techniques to speed up computer processing speeds. You will soon be able to do more with your computer and achieve greater productivity in any computer-related task you do.

Hardware and software considerations play an important role in speeding up your computer.

In terms of hardware, it would be highly recommended for computer users to purchase additional memory modules for their computer. RAM or random access memory is a computer hardware that provides a computer with the ability to support complex and comprehensive applications such as Adobe Premiere Pro. Failure to install sufficient RAM for your computer will result in it not being able to be utilized to the fullest potential as you would find it difficult to support the running of multiple applications to satisfy your work requirements. Computer applications all require a certain amount of memory space to function smoothly. This includes your computer's operating systems such as Windows XP and Windows Vista. RAM is cheap and relatively easy to install, requiring a mere set up time of about 10 to 15 minutes. If your computer is still under warranty, you should bring it back to where you purchased it from and request the vendor to provide you with a RAM upgrade at a fee. Otherwise, you can purchase a memory module and install the RAM yourself. Information pertaining to memory upgrades can often be found relatively easily over the internet. Ideally, I would suggest 1gb of RAM if you are running Windows XP and 2gb if you are running Windows Vista. In any case, the returns are instant and you would enjoy a noticeable increase in computer processing speeds.

Software wise, it would be a good idea to clean up your computer registry using a registry cleaner. Preference and setting files are stored by Windows for all software and hardware installed into a computer. When a software or hardware is uninstalled, these preference and setting files are not removed. Over time, these would cause a build up, slowing down your computer. High quality registry repair software scans your computer registry for such files. These are then listed and can be deleted easily. The end result would be appreciably faster processing speeds for your computer.

In addition, it would also be a good idea to invest in a good anti-virus and spyware remover program. It is common to find viruses and spywares embedded into websites these days. These have the purpose to track your surfing activities and run in the background without you knowing, slowing the speed of your computer. Good anti-virus or spyware remover program weeds out viruses and spywares, allowing your computer to function at a much faster speed. Subsequently, it blocks out any future invasions of such malicious software into your computer system.

The key to computer maintenance lies in diligence and discipline. Never rush to junk your computer for a new one just because it starts to run slowly. Often, the root of the problem can be easily solved through a combination of methods. Collectively, these allow you to speed up computer processing speeds, restoring that old, trusty IBM of yours back to its former glory.

Logan Albright is an authority on troubleshooting computer problems at http://www.pcaholic.com - Where he helps thousands how to optimize their computers through a proper computer check up. Click Here to speed up your PC for free.

The Secret To Build Your Own Gaming Computer

For a gamer, what can be more fulfilling than to build your own gaming computer? In fact, the only way to get the best out of your computer and maximize your gaming experience is to build it yourself. However, there are tightly kept secrets among computer retailers that they don't want you to know, because it will affect their profitability to a great extent. This article will reveal the secrets that all gamers need to know.

Secret 1) It is very easy to build your own gaming computer

If everyone knows how easy it is to build a computer, then no one will be buying from the computer retailers. This is why most computer retailers tell you that it is very troublesome and complicated to build your own and it is better off to buy one off the shelf. In actual fact, my 10 years old kid took only 1 hour to figure out how to build a computer. How long do you think you need?

Secret 2) It is much cheaper to build your own gaming computer than to buy one off the shelf

Keep in mind that the main focus of the computer retailer is to make as much profit from you, not how good your gaming experience is. As such, never expect a cheap gaming computer from computer retailers. Occasionally, computer retailers may package their computers in a low price to entice you to buy. The fact is: you will not be getting the quality component that your price is paying. Most of the parts in the computer will not be suitable for gaming usage. It might boost the latest CPU in the market, but the power supply, graphics card, motherboards and memory are parts that get obsolete very fast. If you are patient enough to shop around and source for the parts you want, you can save up to 30 - 50% of what you going to pay at the retail stores.

Secret 3) Off the shelf computers are not upgradeable

Building your own computer allows you to choose the parts that are upgradeable in the future. Off the shelf computers don't and the retailers are keeping mum about it. Most off the shelf computers are using parts that will grow obsolete in a year or two times and the only choice you have then is to buy another computer from them again.

Secret 4) You don't need extended warranties and technical support

Your computer retailers will definitely sell you the benefit of having extended warranties and technical support because they know that most of the time, it will not realise and it is a pure profit for them. By buying one, you're betting that your product will break, that the extended warranty will cover the damage, and that repairing the product would cost more than you paid for the extended warranty. In that case, why bother to buy from them in the first place? When you build your own gaming computer, each part comes with warranty. Even if it spoils, you only have to change the individual part rather than the whole computer. This is much cheaper than what you pay for the extended warranty. In addition, the lifespan of a computer system is generally 3-5 years. By the time your whole computer system is spoilt, it is also time to get a new one because all your computer parts will be obsolete by then.

The only way to get the best out of your computer, be it the cost or the gaming performance, is to build your own gaming computer. Computer retailers are keeping mum about this fact and trying means to entice you to buy from them. If you are serious about gaming, don't ever let the computer retailers stand in your way of owning your very best gaming computer.

Damien Oh has great passion in building gaming computer. He shares his passion, expertise and knowledge in his website http://www.build-gaming-computer-guide.com. You can find tons of information and resources on building gaming computer, hardware reviews, installation guide, PC games reviews and many more. To find out more secrets and free information on gaming computer, check out Build Gaming Computer Guide now!

The History of the Computer

As man evolved into a more intelligent being, the storage of information became more important to him in order for this life to be more rewarding.

Modern information technology would be just a coined phase if it were not for the invention of the computer. The computer as we know it is an electronic machine that processes data via a set of instructions, to perform a specific task and store and recall information at the touch of a button. It can be fun, especially with all the exciting features and games on it. It also helps, in many ways, to solve complex problems on its own. It is used in almost everything we do, for commercial, medical, science, the arts and personal uses.

The abacus was the most popular manual calculating device in the world. It is a mechanised pebble counter, the squire like structure has on beads strung on wires, and the beads are slid along the wires when counting or adding. The Abacus dates back over two thousand years. And it is still being used by some parts of the world today. The storage of information in that time era was evolving into a more efficient system as the business world was growing rapidly.

In 1944 the first computer hardware was born, which was known as the Mark 1. It was power off vacuum tubes and consume a lot of energy, especial been very large in size.

The second generation of computers was ushered in by the invention of the transistor. This was from 1959 to 1964. The development of the integrated circuits in 1963 "ruled the roost" until 1975 where they made further advancement by placing the entire circuit on silicon chip along with other computer components.

Advancement in computer technology

Micro Chip

Robert Noyce, a scientist who found Intel Corporation, developed the microchip. He created the chip by putting thousands of integrated circuits on a minute silicon chip. The chip is actually a microelectronic "system" capable of performing various tasks. It is not only the computer that uses the microchip but also pocket calculators, radio, television and cell-phones.

The improvement in the integrated circuits has made it possible for scientist to pack a large number of computer components on a single chip. The complexity that this combination produces on the digital circuit is due to the number of transistor or logic gate that is installed on the tiny chip. This makes it possible for large-scale integration. This allows multiple processing of jobs at the same time. For example, you can be playing music CD, while running excel or word.

These very small computer parts, which are not larger than the size of a baby's fingernail, are extremely powerful. It carries the main processing power in the computer hardware and is referred to as the microprocessor or the central processing unit. The CPU is made up of the control unit, the arithmetic/logic unit and the register. These elements are held on the integrated circuit or the silicon chip. Because of the microchip, more complex mathematical and very large amount of data can be processed. Since the advent of the silicon chip, science and technology has grown by leaps and bounds. No other advancement has made such a significant contribution to the industry.

Personal Computer

The personal computers have become very popular all over the world. These computers can be seen in offices, in the home and entertainment centres. The first personal computer was available to the public in 1974 by Miroc Instrumentation Telemetry Systems (MITS) of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The personal computer was called the Altair 8800 and was retailed for $400. It had no keyboard and no permanent storage space, in fact it was a built it yourself kit.

The personal computer kit had a tremendous demand and so small manufacturing computer companies started to pop up to satisfy this demand. One such company that improved on the personal computer by adding computer parts such as a keyboard and display terminal was Tandy Corporation (Radio Shack), Tandy's model computer in 1977 could be programmed and stored information by using cassette tapes.

Today personal computers are more complex in its computer software architecture, in which you have multiprocessing of jobs. That means you can listen to a CD while working in Excel or word, as I had mention earlier. Thanks to a computer components known as the microchip.

Intel, who is the developer of the microchip, has dominated the PC market, in term of computer hardware, and has launched their new low-price Poulson chips. It has a speed of 10 GHz. computer companies such as Dell and Compaq have already begun to offer the new chip on their processors. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) who is a computer supplier of integrated circuits and communications software with their home page provides links to product and information, is saying that AMD Athlon 3Dnow! Chip is needed on the Pentium to run some application properly. But they also believe that Intel, who is the trailblazer, will continue to "rule the roost ", because, before the year-ends, they will be coming out with the chip with processing speed up to 1THz. This new advancement is expected to roll out Intel Pentium. This move will send the price of personal computers further down. Intel is hoping that Microsoft new Windows Operating System; Windows 7 will spur demand for their new Pentium.

Throughout the world more people and businesses are buying computers and computer parts to do their day to day routines. The development of the silicon chip reduced the size of the personal computer so it can hold on a desk and also in a shirt pocket. It has become more powerful and more affordable for the average person.

Computers are categorized in three categories, main frame, micro and minicomputers. Mainframe computers were with us since the first computer but the inception of the microchip made it possible for a computer to hold in a shirt pocket and 100,000 times faster than the first generation of computers!

Information systems development

Computers are helping to teach handicaps, disadvantage and gifted children. It also uses voice synthesizers to talk to them. Space travel, weather prediction and designing productions for the market, also construction of skyscrapers, would be impossible without supercomputer. You can be a thousand miles away and communicate information to a computer system, via a small device attached to your computer known as modem. Networking of computers makes it possible for management to make on the spot decisions. All these things are possible through systems known as the expert system and artificial intelligence. Software information system development in areas like transaction processing systems, Management information systems and decision support system are used in the commercial arena.

The Internet can make information that is found in a library, be available to you at the push of a button, when your computer is connected to it. In addition, it has revolutionized the communication industry. Advancement in computer technology allows for larger storage system by using honeycomb structure, which can store up to 40 petabyte of data and can be available in less than a second. Laser technology has further expanded the storage capacity making the computer possible to store up to a 1 million terabytes of data in a space the size of a post stamp. Furthermore, scientists have predicted that the beam of the laser has the potential of carrying all the conversation going on at once on the earth!

In addition to storage capacity, the flash drive can store up to 256 gigabytes or an equivalent of 1,000,000 textbooks. All this information on a stick 1/4 the size of a pencil, that is Incredible!

The future

The only intelligent computers that we have experienced are what we see in science fiction movies. Yet what you are seeing is what scientists have in mind. That is why the Americans and the Japanese are in a "rat race" to see who can first come up with the first thinking computers. If this breakthrough occurs, it will require major changes in construction and programming of the computer.

Scientists have just scratched the surface with virtual reality. What they hope to achieve is for the computer to reason, to learn from experiences, to reflect, and to make its own choices. Although computers have been programmed to learn from experience, such as playing games, it cannot think on its own. Scientist first has to understand and fully define the thinking process before they can make a breakthrough in common sense reasoning.

Conclusion

Computers have become a vital tool in the business world, because it allows faster processing of information, therefore greater productivity at the work place.

Whether we like it or not, computers are here to stay, it's what we call the computer age. The speed at which information is processed frightens many workers, fearing it will put them out of jobs. Rest assures that computers are not here to take over. They are here to assist man to get ahead faster.

Computers have helped us tremendously in every facet of life, for example doctors use computers in term of AI, to help disabled patients to walk and hear better and perform operation when he is 4000 miles away from the patient! It also helps in the education of emotionally impaired and both gifted and disadvantaged students. It is a vital tool to scientific research and advancement. The results are all around us. You just have to stop and think where all those wonders of technology came from.

The industry that has benefited tremendously from computer technology is the business industry. It has revolutionized how business activities are conducted all over the world. The computers have become a part of the business structure and operation procedure; in fact, it has become second best to the human resources.

Garth Simpson is passionate about computers and he is the CEO of his own business. Please visit:
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Computer Appreciation For Beginners (Part 1)

To those who really want to be perfect in computer operation and understanding, this article which shall come in 'parts' will lead you gently from the basics of computer to the complex usage of the software in the system. Before one starts using the programs in the system, he or she wants understand the system components and their usage. And so I wish to let you know of the meaning of computer and probably the generations of computer.

Definition of a Computer System

Computer is defined in so many ways by so many people based on their field of specialization. A computer is a set of interrelated and interactive devices, which uses electronic components to perform a predefined operation with accuracy. But generally, a computer system may simply be defined as an electronic device, which is capable of accepting data as input, process the data, store the data and provide a result as output in human readable form. The four basic parts of a computer are Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse and System unit.

A Brief History of Computer

Computer history and development is always traced to Charles Babbage, the Father of computers and Lady Ada Lovelace, the Mother of Programming. The computer we have come to use today perfectly without any much stress and difficulty was not invented the way we have seen but passed through series of processes and stages. There exist five generations of computer as briefly discussed below:

First Generation Computer (The Vacuum Tube Technology)

This generation of computers consists of computers developed between 1944 and 1959. ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Calculator), EDSAC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Computers) and UNIVAC 1 and 11 are first generation computers. This generation of computers were very bulky, dissipates a lot of heat, some were very heavy, weighing up to 200 tons. Because of the heat, they needed special cooling system. The characteristic technology of this generation was the use of vacuum tubes as the basic building blocks for the logic parts of the computers. In terms of speed they were very slow compared with computers of later generations.

Second Generation Computer (The Transistor Technology)

The technology, which gave the distinguishing characteristics of the second -generation computers, was the transistor technology. Although this device was developed in 1948 in Bell Telephone Laboratories, and was used largely in the electronic world, it was not until 1959 that it was introduced in the manufacture of computers. These transistors replaced the bulky vacuum tubes. In addition to doing everything that the vacuum tube could do, the transistors would do so with greater reliability, with less power requirement, generate less heat, less costly to manufacture and much smaller in size. The computers developed between 1959 and 1964 are called the second-generation computers. Examples: IBM 7030, 7070, 7090, 7094, Boroughs 200 series, UNIVAC III, Honey-well 800 etc. The development of high level programming languages like FORTRAN and COBOL was another innovation brought by the second-generation computers and were 10 times faster than the first.

Third Generation Computers (Integrated Circuit Technology)

Between 1964 and 1971, the third generation computers were developed. It was the technology of integrated circuits that opened the gates to the third generation computers. In fact we can say that the integrated circuit technology really revolutionized the computer technology itself. Integrated circuits are attached to a small piece of silicon chip. This technology cam progressively from Small Scale Integration (SSI), which contained about twenty interconnected transistors and diodes, through the Medium Scale Integration (MSI) which had over hundred interconnected transistors on a single chip, to Large Scale Integration (LSI) of over tens of thousand of transistors and diodes on a single chip. The achievements of the Integrated circuit technology led to even faster, more reliable, cheap and small-sized computers, whose powers were multiple of those of the earlier generations. In deed, this generation of computers gave birth to the mini computers, whose power of operation was more than the earlier generation, greater reliability and speed, yet was far less in size and in cost. They could do hundred times as many calculations per second and hundred times faster than their second-generation counterparts could. Examples: IBM 31360 - 31370 series, CDC 6600, 7600, Boroughs B5000 and PDP II series.

The Fourth Generation Computers (VLSIC Micro Technology

The very large-scale integrated circuit (VLSIC), made possible by the micro technology of the period 1971-1982 ushered in the fourth generation of computers. VLSIC has between 5,000 and 50,000 gates (transistors), upon which micro-processors were built. The effect of this technology was smaller and smaller but more and more powerful computers whose speed and reliability trivialized those of the earlier generations. This era also produced the micro-computers that could do the job of first generation large computers with thousand of times faster speed and affordable prices even by individual. This generation also produced a wide variety of software packages like word processing packages, graphics, games, spreadsheet packages and database management systems. Networking capabilities were also enhanced in this era. Examples of the fourth generation computers include the IBM 3033, HP 3000 mini computers, Apple II, Boroughs B7700.

Fifth Generation Computers (Era of Artificial Intelligence)

The technology of this generation of computers is characterized by Super Large Scale Integration (ULSI), Ultra Large Scale Integration (ULSI), parallel processing, Artificial Intelligence, Speech Processing, Pattern Recognition and Expert System. The distinguishing characteristics of this generation of computer are their tremendous speed and power. Continuous miniaturization of computers is the order of the day, newer, smaller, more powerful computers are seen day by day. Powerful microcomputers have today dwarfed the capability of the older days mainframe. Pentium II mother board with clock speed higher than 300 MHz and hard disk storage space over 20 Gigabytes with unbelievable capabilities, are now affordable by even low income earners. Networking, ranging from local, wide area to Internets are the common features of this generation of computers and has reduced the whole world into a global village.

By Emmanuel Effiong

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The Secrets of Computer Repair

The secret to computer repair is simple: you have to know and understand how your computer system works before you try to repair a problem. Repairing a computer is like any other type of repair; you must know how each separate part works in order to make the machine run. Once you have that knowledge, many of the problems that can go wrong with computers can be solved by using your compute knowledge in order to isolate and resolve the situation.

If you want to keep your computer from having to be repaired all you have to do is be vigilant about what goes on your computer. Spyware is a big threat to many computers. It tracks your moves and can steal your information. It also reduces the overall operating efficiency of your computer. Make sure you have an anti-spyware program that will find and destroy all the spyware on your system.

Another way to prevent your computer from needing any type of repair is to reduce the number of programs in the startup menu. You do not want to try to repair a slow computer that just has too much stuff on it. Instead, you can find the programs that your never use (ones that are automatically installed by the manufacturer) and getting rid of them. This will make your computer run much faster.

The last secret to keeping your computer running smoothly and not in need of repair is to get an anti virus program and keep it updated. An anti virus program that is never updated is of little use to your computers safety. New viruses are being developed all the time and in order to keep your computer safe and secure you will have to update your anti virus software at least two or three times a week. Make sure that your settings are also correct. This will ensure that your computer is being protected from most of the common viruses.

These are probably the first three areas that a computer repair specialist will check before they begin looking for another type of problem. If you computer is slow or no running as well as it should, the most common problems have to do with the programs that you have on your startup menu, your antivirus software, and your spyware software. If none of these are lacking, and you are still having a problem with your computer, you will need to check other areas of your computer in order to isolate the problem. This is where your knowledge of all the components in your computer will help you out. Most of the time, a problem with you computer is with the software. Something doesn't work right because of a certain setting or lack of space to correct the problem and have the computer function properly. Other problems with your computer can be with the hardware.

If you want to repair the hardware inside of your computer, you will first need to use some basic safety. Do not open up your computer's unit until you have all of the power shut off. That means unplugging it from the wall. Then you can open up the case and look for your problem. There are many components inside the computer, so make sure that you know what you are looking for before you begin working to repair the problems.

Jordan McPelt is a professional writer specializing in computer repair and computer support [http://www.dialageek.com/business-services/]. To learn more about computer repair please visit [http://www.dialageek.com]

A Small Business Approach To Computer Downtime

The muscle of a modern small business
If it's true that the backbone of any small business is its employees, then I believe it's fair to say that the muscle of many small businesses would have to be their computers. Plain and simple, business today is performed electronically. Whether it's a day-trader trading stocks over the internet, a lawyer, physician or other professional looking up data, or a shopkeeper tracking prices and sales, computers are often an essential "tool of their trades".

In fact, in the majority of professions where a computer is used, it is often not possible to effectively perform the job role without it. Sure the day-trader could continuously call their broker every five minutes for stock quotes, but in practical terms their business is reduced to a standstill. An analogy would be a carpenter trying to work without his hammer.

However, when you consider complexity, comparing a PC to a hammer is kind of like comparing a space shuttle to a bicycle. The average computer is a marvel of complexity. In fact, when we break it down, we're not even talking about a single device. Computer systems are made up of a collection of hardware and software components, usually made by different manufacturers, working together for a common purpose. And it follows simple logic; the more complex the system, the more that can go wrong. All it often takes for a business to come grinding to a halt is for one of those components to malfunction.

Computer downtime can result from numerous circumstances. Viruses and spyware are waiting to infect your PC through the internet, email and even commonly used applications. Internet hacking, identity theft and other cyber crimes are all on the rise. Compatibility issues and missing or corrupt drivers plague both hardware and software alike. And problems with the installation and use of everyday programs can cause no end of headaches.

While the above points can raise a number of questions in the average small businesspersons mind around the costs associated with these downtimes and what can be done to minimize them, straight answers are often not easily found. In this article, we will attempt to analyze these questions and determine the best approach for professionals and small businesses to take in dealing with computer downtime.

Options for dealing with downtime
Questions surrounding downtime related costs have become such a hot topic on the Internet that an online calculator has been developed by NTA Monitor Ltd. to assist individuals and companies in determining the cost of computer downtime (You can try it out at http://www.nta-monitor.com/services/downtimecalc.htm). While this calculator can be quite handy, it is often not readily apparent what numbers to use for "total downtime" or "labor costs". So lets just do some calculations of our own to determine the total overall costs that a professional or small business faces due to downtime and see if we can determine the best approach to resolving downtime related incidents.

The first and hardest question to answer is "how long is an average downtime incident for a small business?" Well, I'm afraid that there is no easy answer to this. While the average time is completely dependent on the nature of the problem, for this example we can piece together a typical scenario of events to create our timeframe.

When a typical computer issue or problem arises, there are a number of avenues that a small business owner can take to see it resolved. As most small businesses can obviously not afford to pay for a full or even part-time IT staff, the "do it yourself" method is often first employed. Resources such as friends, family and the internet are consulted for answers and some trial and error approaches, such as using generic "fix all" programs, are tried. That failing, a local computer service shops can be called for on-site or drop-off support. Or as a new and increasingly popular alternative, a remote service provider can be used.

Depending on the user's knowledge of computers, the "do it yourself" approach can sometimes work and considering the time spent doing research, trial and error fixes, etc. the average issue can be resolved in as little a an hour or two. But sadly, more often than not, the time spent does not result in a solution and it is added to the overall incident time. So to make our calculations simpler, let's deduce that on average the amount of self help time spent saves as much time as it looses and instead we will focus on three remaining options; on-site, drop-off and remote support. We will base our calculations on an eight hour work day.

While being a more expensive option, on-site services can often result in a quicker resolution time than drop-off service. Usually a technician can be scheduled for "same day" or "next day" service. On average this results in a total downtime of around eight hours.

A small business can save some money on the hourly rate it is charged by choosing to drop off their PC for service instead of having a technician come to them. While some service depots have longer waiting lists that result in the business owner losing their PC for numerous days or even weeks, shopping around for service usually results in an average turn around time of two to three days. Factoring in the time spent disconnecting and reconnecting your system, as well as the time spent dropping it off and picking it up, it's reasonable to say that the average downtime for drop-off service is in the neighborhood of 24 business hours.

Finally, there is a lesser known option for small businesses that has grown out of advances in "desktop sharing" technologies. Professional remote computer service and support technicians can access computers directly through their internet connections to resolve computer issues.

Michael Hovila, the owner of AdvanceServe Remote PC Services ([http://www.remotepcservices.com]) informs us that "remote computer repair and support services are available to any computer that is connected to the Internet, anywhere in North America; It can be from home or business, a hotel suite or while telecommuting, or even through local wireless 'hotspots'. We can even connect though your home or corporate firewall... Then just sit back and watch as our remote technician controls your mouse and keyboard to diagnose and fix your computer problems or to demonstrate how to use or configure common applications."

The hourly rate for remote support usually falls somewhere between that of local drop off and onsite service rates, while the downtime is reduced to an average of two hours per incident as a result of not having to wait for service. However, not all issues can be resolved remotely. Physical problems such as hardware failures still need to be dealt with by a "hands on" technician.

Calculating the costs
So which option is best for the small business owner? Let's do some quick and simple math to find out. Based on average "resolution time" claims from numerous sources, I have decided to use two hours as the mean resolution time for these calculations.

For onsite service, rates are charged either on a "per hour" or "per incident" basis. Since we are calculating "per hour", I compared the rates of four leading national on-site service providers and worked out an average of $100 US/hour for onsite support. So the total cost for a two hour service call ends up being $200.

Next we examine the cost of the drop-off service option. Prices in this category vary a little more depending on the service provider but a comparison of two national providers and two "mom and pop" local service depots resulted in an average hourly rate of $60 US per hour. Based on our two hour resolution time the labor cost for this option is $120.

Finally there is the remote support option. An average comparison of four trusted national providers resulted in a rate of $80 per hour. For a two hour resolution time the total cost is $160.

But we're not done yet. Now we have to factor in the loss of wages that has resulted from the down time. 2003 Bureau of Labor statistics suggest that individuals who use computers for a living make an average of $36.20 an hour in wages and benefits. So using that figure as the "per hour" loss due to downtime for a single computer, we can calculate and compare the total cost of downtime for each of our three timelines.

Option One - Onsite Service

Total Downtime: 8 hours

Lost wages: $36.20x8=$289.60

Cost of Service: $200

Total Cost of Downtime: $489.60 per PC

Option Two - Drop Off Service

Total Downtime: 20 hours

Lost Wages: $36.20x20=$724

Cost of Service: $120

Total Cost of Downtime: $844 per PC

Option Three - Remote Service

Total Downtime: 2 hours

Lost Wages: $36.20x2=$72.40

Cost of Service: $160

Total Cost of Downtime: $232.40 per PC

Well, based on total costs the hands down choice appears to be "Remote Computer Support". However, there are a couple additional factors that should be examined a little closer before making a final decision. As mentioned earlier, remote support has its limitations. The primary two being, the issue cannot be fixed remotely if it is a result of a physical problem with a component, and the computer being serviced must have working internet access.

To determine how the first limitation factors in, we need to determine what percentage of computer problems are hardware vs. software related. Vendor data shows that software issues are actually 40 times more common than hardware issues. Therefore, in theory, when the computer can still boot up and access the internet, around 97% of problems can be solved remotely.

The best approach

I now believe we have enough data to make a well rounded decision regarding the best approach for professionals and small businesses when dealing with computer downtime.

Step Zero: The reason I've added a "step zero" is that an age old saying still applies to modern problems; an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Take the time to have routine computer maintenance performed on your PC. There are a number of great "self help" guides to keeping your PC running smoothly. Or consider signing up for a routine maintenance plan by a professional remote provider if you are either not comfortable with, or do not have the time to maintain your own computers. But no amount of maintenance can prevent the inevitable, so when downtime does occure...

Step one: If you are reasonably knowledgeable in computers and you can still access the internet, it can't hurt to take a few minutes to search online or with your peers for answers. If the answer is not apparent within fifteen minutes of searching, there is a good chance the solution is not simple enough for the average computer user to solve and professional assistance should be considered.

Step two: To save time and money, your next best step is to try a remote service provider. They can often resolve your issue quickly and get you back to making money instead of spending it. Even though they cannot resolve physical problems, you will still come out much farther ahead on average by trying a remote technician first.

Step three: In the few cases where the issue ends up being hardware related, your next best choice would be the onsite provider. Many remote providers have local affiliates who they can recommend you to and can provide you with diagnostic information to pass on to the local technician, which may reduce the required support time.

Addendum: Since this article was first published, I have received a number of emails asking for my recommendations on the best choice for computer support providers in each of the areas I covered. So as requested, here are my choices for the top national providers. Please note that the following choices are simply based on my own research and experience:

Recommended Remote Provider:

AdvanceServe Remote PC Services

[http://www.remotepcservices.com]

1-877-87SERVE

Recommended On-Site Provider:

CompUSA Technical Services

http://www.compusa.com/tech_services/techknowledgist_mobile.asp

1-800-COMPUSA

Recommended Drop-Off Provider:

CompUSA Technical Services

http://www.compusa.com/tech_services/instore_services.asp

1-800-COMPUSA

From downtime to uptime

Computers are an essential part of most modern small businesses but when problems occur, the costs associated with them can quickly spiral out of control. However, a quick and well thought out response to computer downtime can save a small business hundreds or even thousands of dollars. I hope this guide will help you to be better prepared when your downtime comes because it's not a matter of if; it's a matter of when.

Aidan McDermott has a Degree in Information Systems and runs a small computer consulting firm. He enjoys writing technology based freelance articles in his spare time.